School Threshold Annual Review (STAR)
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 129 No 2, 28 March 2024, page 23.
The School Threshold Annual Review (STAR), the annual review of school classification against total government resourcing thresholds, provides recommendations on centres (including schools and special education programs) and positions (including principals, heads of campuses and heads of special education services).
The department’s HR shared services team coordinates the annual review in conjunction with the Evaluation Review Committee (ERC), which is a joint committee comprising the Department of Education and the Queensland Teachers’ Union (as well as invited guests) that provides governance throughout the process. Currently the Assistant Secretary – Education Leaders (Paige Bousen) and the Assistant Secretary – Industrial Advocate/Legal (Chris Shevelling) represent the QTU on the ERC.
The initial part of the review establishes school level and principal classification level by calculating total school resourcing and aligning total government resourcing thresholds. There is then a comparison of the school level with the review result level. The outcome will be one of the following:
- Same: school stays at the same level as last year
- Above: school moves up a level as the result is above last year’s level
- Below: school moves down a level as the result is below last year level.
The principal level outcome is then examined and one of the outcomes in the top table determined by the ERC.
No change | Above level | Below level | On hold |
No change to classification level principal classification remaining at the same level as previous year | Above previous year level principal position moving to a classification level that is above the current level (clause 5.9.6) | Below classification level principal position moving to a lower classification level (clause 5.9.7 & 5.9.8) | All parties agree that, based on information received, the status be placed on hold for the current year |
Please note – that school level and principal classification level are different.
If a principal is moving to a classification level that is above the current principal classification level they will, while they remain in the position at that school, commence on the new classification effective from the first day of the year in which the review occurred, except where the principal has previously broad-banded in accordance with clause 5.10 of the Department of Education State School Teachers’ Certified Agreement 2022. If a principal has previously broad-banded, we recommend contacting the QTU for more information.
If a principal is moving to a classification level that is below the current principal classification level, the following will apply:
- The first occasion that the classification moves down is categorised as the Year 1 below level review year.
- In the subsequent year, the principal shall be notified they will remain at this classification and commence salary maintenance year 1 from the start of that year (Year 2 below level).
- Should the school classification level remain the same for the following year (Year 3 below level), the principal shall continue salary maintenance.
- At the next review of the principal classification: total government resource thresholds allocation, should the school maintain a classification that is below the maintained principal classification level, the principal shall be notified that, from the beginning of the school year (Year 4 below level), their classification will revert to the relevant level in accordance with Schedule 1.
This article provides a brief overview.
If your school moves down a level as a result of the review, the QTU strongly recommends contacting the Union for more information about the implications, time frames and possible relocation.
School year | Year 1 below level | Year 2 below level | Year 3 below level | Year 4 below level |
ERC review stage | Existing school threshold not met (Year 1 below level - review year) | Existing school threshold not met (Year 2 below level) | Existing school threshold not met (Year 3 below level) | |
School classification level | Review year/on notice - Year 1 below level | Re-assess/year 2 - below level | Year 3 below level / school classification lowered | |
Principal classification level | Year 1 below level - review year | Year 2 - below level/ salary maintenance year 1 | Year 3 - below level / salary maintenance year 2 | New (lower) principal classification level commences |
NB: special considerations
As the review recognises the complexity and value of school leadership roles across school settings, regional HR’s role is to represent schools by providing relevant information and context to assist in the review outcomes, i.e. alternative structures, environmental impacts (draught declared, flood).